The region's Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov announced the creation of Crimea's Navy forces and appointed Berezovsky its head.

“The Republic will have its own navy, which will be commanded by rear admiral Berezovsky,” Aksyonov told the journalists Sunday.

“Subsequently, this day will be considered the birthday of the naval forces of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea,” he added.

"All Navy troops dislocated in Sevastopol are ordered to disregard any commands coming from Ukraine's new self-proclaimed authorities," the PM also
declared. "Do not take any orders of using arms till my personal instructions."

Aksyonov promised that “all soldiers, who’ll swear allegiance to the Crimean people, will retain their allowance, health and social benefits,
military rank and position.”

As for those, who wouldn’t want to join the Crimean navy, they have the full right “to retire” and “won’t be prosecuted” afterwards, the
PM stressed.

Berezovsky was appointed Ukraine's Navy chief on February 28, but following Sunday developments the country's Security Council dismissed him and
launched a case for "treason" and for surrendering his headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol.

"The prosecutor's office has opened a criminal case against Denis Berezovsky under statute 111: state treason," said Viktoria Syumar, deputy
secretary of the Security Council. Another admiral, Sergey Hayduk, was placed in charge of the navy.

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